This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
“The Council of Dads: My Daughters, My Illness, and the Men Who Could Be Me” tells the story of a young father diagnosed with cancer and wanting to provide a Father figure substitute to his girls in case of his death as well as a chronicle of the difficulties and lessons of fighting the disease. I have a wide breadth in my attitude towards this book, which tells the stories of Feiler’s fight against cancer, his invention of a council of six men to serve as surrogate dads for his daughters if he didn’t survive and enough about his family to give substance to the others; a story about what he calls “The Lost Year.”
The book was not easy to read. This wasn’t because of grammar or situations. There was points at which I simply didn’t enjoy the storytelling. I kept picking the book up because what he was recounting was sincere and important enough to read through. It was at times a bit of a jerky ride. Eventually I decided to credit the author for trying to convey the jerky ride his life was during the episodes related. He is, after all, a respected writer of books about travel and making journeys. This is a travelogue of a very personal journey.
I don’t want to leave the impression that the book is morose. It isn’t! It is filled with happy episodes of his family, his marriage and friends. The afterglow of “Council” is nostalgic, melancholy and ultimately warm and hopeful. You will reconsider your efforts at living life and the value of your friends and loved ones. It is worth the read. ( 
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